Rishi Sunak has opened a new pharmacy in Bedale and promoted a new NHS service.
The MP declared open the Mills Pharmacy at the Glebe House GP Surgery following its relocation from the town centre’s North End.
During his visit to the new premises in Bedale in Firby Road, he met staff and had his blood pressure taken as part of the new NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service.
The free service, which encourages pharmacists to measure the blood pressure of adults over 40 years of age, aims to identify people with high blood pressure, who have previously not had a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure).
Mr Sunak said: “We know that pharmacists are the responsive, local heartbeat of our healthcare system. This service is going to have a positive impact on identifying blood pressure issues in those who are currently undiagnosed.
“The new service is being delivered in a superb new building which is now the health hub for the town.”
The blood pressure checks service is being rolled-out nationwide. Over the next five years estimates show that 3,700 strokes and 2,500 heart attacks could be prevented as a result of the tests and around 2,000 lives could be saved.
Predictions also show that if 2.5 million people get their blood pressure checked in this way, an additional 250,000 people could receive lifesaving treatment for hypertension.
The relocated pharmacy is operated by Knights Pharmacy which has 90 pharmacies around the country. Its opening is the final step in the transformation for the Glebe House Surgery into an integrated healthcare hub for the town and surrounding area.
The £2.7m redevelopment involved reconfiguration of the existing building and a 500 sq m extension to house the GP surgery, the pharmacy and the services previously provided at Bedale Health Clinic.
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